Electrochemical Oxidation Induced Selective C-C Bond Cleavage

Selective C-C bond cleavage under mild conditions can serve as a valuable tool for organic syntheses and macromolecular degradation. However, the conventional chemical methods have largely involved the use of noble transition-metal catalysts as well as the stoichiometric and perhaps environmentally unfriendly oxidants, compromising the overall sustainable nature of C-C transformation chemistry. In this regard, electrochemical C-C bond cleavage has been identified as a sustainable and scalable strategy that employs electricity to replace byproduct-generating chemical reagents. To date, the progress made in this area has mainly relied on Kolbe electrolysis and related processes. Encouragingly, more and more examples of the cleavage of C-C bonds via other maneuvers have recently been developed. This review provides an overview on the most recent and significant developments in electrochemically oxidative selective C-C bond cleavage, with an emphasis on both synthetic outcomes and reaction mechanisms, and it showcases the innate advantages and exciting potentials of electrochemical synthesis.